Engine starting



y 1938. F. E. LIVERANCE, JR $117,066

ENGINE STARTING Filed March 29, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Patented May 10,1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application March 29,

11 Claims.

This invention relates to engine starting, particularly internalcombustion engines of motor vehicles. It is an object and purpose of thepresent invention to provide a very economically manufactured andreadily and easily operated semi-automatic starting device which,preferably, will be mounted on the dash of a motor vehicle body, saiddevice being interposed in the electric circuit in which the startingmotor which turns over the engine is located, and which may be operatedto close the circuit when the engine is at rest, whereby the startingmotor will be energized; and with which the starting motor circuit willbe broken when the engine runs under its own power and cannot be closedagain until a manual operation is performed which will move a separatingmember which automatically interposes itself between contacts in thestarting motor circuit when the same are separated after the engine hasstarted.

Also with this starting device and the circuit in which it is used theremay be, if desired, introduced in the circuit a second switch to beclosed simultaneously with a depression of the accelerator pedal whichis foot operated to control the fuel mixture supplied to the engine,whereby there is an assurance that the fuel mixture to the engine willbe increased upon attempted starting. There will be further assurancethat accidental operation of the dash located switch will not start theengine until the second switch has been moved to closed position, and afurther assurance that after the engine is started any operation of theswitch which may be closed by the same foot which operates theaccelerator pedal will not result in closing the starting motor circuitwhen the engine is running. Such second switch in the starting motor 40circuit may also be closed by depression of the clutch pedal to insureagainst accidental starting.

'The invention may be understood from the following description, takenin connection with the accompanying drawings, in which,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation and section, illustrating the way that thestarting device is installed upon the body of a motor vehicle andfurther diagrammatically illustrating the circuit for the starting motorassociated with said starting device.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section through the starting device.

Fig. 3 is a transverse section on the plane of line 33 of Fig. 2 lookingin the direction indicated by the arrows, and

1937, Serial No. 133,569

Fig. 4 is a plan view showing the accelerator pedal and the footengageable member for closing the second switch.

Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation of a modification of the startingdevice.

Fig. 6 is a plan view, partly in section, of the device shown in Fig. 5.

Fig. '7 is a sectional elevation of a further modification of theconstruction shown in Fig. 5.

Like reference characters refer to like parts in the different figuresof the drawings.

In Fig. 1, an internal combustion engine I is indicated with the intakemanifold 2 associated therewith. The vertical dash 3 of the body of themotor vehicle is located at the front of the driving compartment of thecar immediately before the driver. On a downwardly and rear- Wardlyinclined floor board of the front or driving compartment the footoperated accelerator pedal 5 is pivotally mounted, depression of whichmoves a rod 6 which is connected with the throttle valve of the enginecarburetor in the usual manner so as to control the fuel supply to theengine. The starting motor I, which has on its shaft an automaticallymovable pinion to engage a ring gear on the flywheel of the engine inaccordance with usual practice, is indicated as connected at one side bya wire 8 with an electric battery 9 installed in the motor vehicle, saidbattery being grounded at its opposite side at ID on the frame or bodyof the motor vehicle. This is the environment with which my invention isassociated.

In Fig. 2 the device of my invention is shown 35 in longitudinalvertical section and includes a vertical supporting plate II which isadapted to be secured to the dash 3 and from which, at a lower partthereof, a boss I2 projects forwardly. Over this boss a tubular housingI 3 is located and extends a distance away from the boss. It is securedto said boss in any suitable manner as by soldering, screws or the like.

Within the housing l3 and in front of the boss [2 a block M ofinsulating material is mounted for slidable movement in the housing. Thelower side of the housing has a relatively wide slot therein from itsforward end rearwardly substantially to the boss l2 and a downwardlyprojecting portion l5 of the insulating member l4 extends through saidslot. A metal contact I6 is mounted at the rear portion of the block l3and has a stem inserted into said block, with which a headed screw I!passed upwardly through the projecting portion I5 is connected as shownin Fig. 2. A wire i8 is connected to the screw ll and held in place by asecond screw 99 which is threaded into the outer end of the headed screwii. The wire l8 leads to the opposite side of the starting motor I. Itmay lead directly as shown by the dotted lines at 20 in Fig. 1, saiddotted line indication being for a direct integral connection betweenthe two parts of the wire l8 shown.

It is evident that in such a case when the contact i engages against theboss [2 an electric circuit is completed, the boss l2 serving as aground upon the body of the car in electric com munication with theground for the battery.

A thin flexible disk diaphragm 2| is clamped between two housing members22 and 23 at its edges there being a gasket 24 between the edges of thediaphragm and the housing member 22 to make a substantially air-tightseal therebetween. The opposite side 23 of the diaphragm housing hasspaced apart ears 25 struck therefrom and turned to pass over theforward end of the housing l3. Said ears may be secured in place by thescrews shown, thereby mounting the diaphragm housing upon and at theforward end of the housing l3. A rod 26 is connected at its forward endto the central part of the diaphragm 2!, passes to the rear through anopening in the center of the diaphragm housing member 23 and extends toand has a threaded connection with the block M. A coiled spring 21 undercompression is located around the rod 26 between the block l4 and themember 23. A tube 28 is connected at one end to the member 22 and at theother end to the manifold 2, providing communication between theinterior of the manifold and the space between the diaphragm 2! and themember 22.

A lever 29 is pivotally mounted between its ends at 3i! on thesupporting plate ll above the boss l2 and the housing l3. The leverpasses through the plate H, one part extending back of the dash 3, andanother part over the rear end of the housing l3. At its rear end it isequipped with a head 3i, preferably having concaved recesses, asindicated in dotted lines in Fig. 2, in both its upper and lower sides.A bar 32 is pivotally mounted and extends downwardly from the forwardend of the lever 29 and is guided through an opening in the upper sideof the housing l3 and at its lower end is of wedge shape as shown, beingadapted to pass between the boss I2 and the contact l6 when they areseparated. The bar 32 is of insulating material. It is normally impelledin a downward direction by a light coiled spring 33 interposed betweenits upper side and a finger 34 integral with and extending forward fromthe upper part of the plate I! directly over the forward end of thelever 29.

With this construction and with the wire l8 running directly from oneside of the motor to connect electrically with the contact IS, with theparts in the position shown in Fig. 2, the starting motor circuit iscompleted and will turn the engine over. When the engine starts and isrunning under its own power, the vacuum developed in the manifold 2 iscommunicated to the space between diaphragm 2| and the member 22,whereby the diaphragm is moved to the right (Fig. 2) and with it theconnected block l4 carrying in contact l6 which is moved to the rightseparating said contact from the boss l2. When this occurs the lever 29,impelled by the spring 33, will have a clockwise movement thereby movingthe insulating bar 32 downwardly between the parts 36 and i2, so thatthereafter the starting motor circuit cannot be completed until the headM of the lever 29 is pushed in a downward direction to lift the bar 32to the position shown in Fig. 2. This insures that after the engine hasstarted there will not be a completion of the starting motor circuitwhile the engine is running even though the vacuum in the manifold at 2decreases to a degree where the pressure in the manifold issubstantially the same as the outside atmospheric temperature. The bar32 stays between the parts l2 and I6 all of the time that the engine isrunning and after it has stopped, so that for a restarting of the engineit is neces sary to manually depress the head 3| of lever 29 to lift theinterposed bar 32 of insulating material from between contact [6 andground I2 thereby permitting the spring 2! to move contact is to engagesaid ground.

It is evident that with such a construction the one starting the carwill seat himself behind the steering wheel and may use his left foot tothrow out the clutch. The right foot may be used to depress theaccelerator pedal so that a larger volume of fuel mixture will becarried to the engine when-the starting motor turns the same over. Theignition key is turned and then upon operating the lever 29 bydepressing the head 3| the starting motor circuit is completed. Theengine is turned over by the starting motor until it starts under itsown power, whereupon the starting motor circuit is automatically brokenby the movement of the contact I6 away from the boss l2 against which itis grounded because of the movement of the diaphragm 2| to the rightupon development of vacuum in the manifold. Thereupon the bar 32 movesbetween the contact l6 and the boss l2. If, as may happen at times, theengine does not start and it is desired that the starting motor bestopped to save depletion of the battery, a lifting against theunderside of the head 3| will push the bar 32 downwardly, and because ofthe wedged shape lower end thereof, the contact !6 may be thus manuallymoved away from the boss l2 on which it is grounded.

Instead of the wire l8 running directly to one side of the startingmotor I! the wire may be separated and branches 35 thereof (Fig. 1) leadto a second switch at 36 which normally has its contacts separated, butwhich may be bridged by a downward movement of the switch plunger 31.This plunger 31 has a head at its upper end preferably located directlyat the forward end of the accelerator pedal 5 but independent thereof,the pedal 5 at its upper end going partly around the plunger 31 at eachside as indicated by the arms 5a. In such case there must be adepression of the accelerator pedal to obtain greater fuel volume inorder to operate the second switch to close the same thereby insuring agreater vol ume of fuel mixture in starting. Of course also, the secondswitch may be directly closed by accelerator pedal depression; or suchswitch may be located in the path of the clutch pedal which would thenhave to be depressed in order to start the engine.

While this modification is not necessary and may or may not be used, itmay be of value in helping to insure that the engine may not beaccidentally started by children, for example, who might depress thelever 29 and lift the bar 32. If the second switch is used for insuranceagainst such possibility, the depression of the lever 29 alone will notserve to complete the motor circuit but one must also normally close thesecond switch.

In Figs. 5 and 6 the starter control device includes a tubular housingwhich may be stamped from a single length of sheet metal to provide twoopposed semi-cylindrical housing sections 38, integrally connected atone end by a cross portion 39 which is bent around an attaching bar 40clamped between it and the ends of the sections 38 and adapted to besecured to the dash 3 by bolts or screws. At the free ends of themembers 38 are tongues 4| which pass through openings and are bent overagainst a closing cap 42. From the cap an arm 43 integrally projects inan upward direction for a short distance, is then bent and continued asa horizontal section 44 above and parallel to the axis of the housing,terminating in a downturned end section 45 which bears against the upperside of the housing as shown.

The member 23 of the diaphragm housing has tongues 46 bent therefrom toextend through the section 44 and clinch against the underside thereofto secure the diaphragm housing in place. A rod 41 is connected at itsupper end to the central part of the diaphragm 2| and is normallyimpelled in a downward direction by a spring 43 between the diaphragm 2|and the other housing member 22. The rod 41 passes through the bottom ofthe member 23, the section 44 and the upper tubular housing member 38and extends at its lower end into the tubular housing as shown, and isadapted to bear against the upper end of a contact 49 which is connectedto the lower tubular housing member 38, passing through insulatingwashers 50 and carrying a binding nut 5| screwed onto a threadeddownwardly extending stem of the contact 49. The circuit wire I8 isconnected to the stem of the contact 49 by the screw l9, the same as itis connected to the member IT in the structure shown in Fig. 2.

When the contact 49 is engaged by the rod 41 the circuit is completed.Normally under the action of the spring 48 the circuit will be completedif there is nothing interposed between said contact 49 and the rod 41.The rod 4'! in this structure provides the ground of the electriccircult.

A flat bar 52 of suitable insulating material is narrowed in width atits rear end and passes through guide slots in the bar 40, theconnecting section. 39 of the tubular housing and the dash 3. A lightcoiled spring 53 is located around the narrowed portion of the bar 52and between the member 4|] and the shoulder which is provided at itsjunction with the wider portion of said bar, the tendency of which is tomove the insulating bar to the left (Fig. 5). At the outer end of thebar 52 a knob 54 is permanently secured.

When the engine is running, spring 48 is compressed and the diaphragm 2|and rod 4'! moved upwardly breaking the circuit and permitting the innerend portion of the bar 52 to pass between contact 49 and the lower endof the rod 41 under the influence of the spring 53. Thereafter, whilethe engine is running, there can be no completion of the starting motorcircuit. If the vacuum produced in the engine manifold materiallydecreases or in fact substantially disappears the lower end of rod 41will merely rest against the upper side so that part of the bar 52 isextended between contact 49 and the rod 47. When the engine is stoppedby turning the ignition key to interrupt the ignition circuit the bar 52remains interposed between the parts 41 and 49.

To start the engine the knob 54 is grasped and the bar 52 pulledoutwardly whereupon spring 48 impels rod 41 into contact engagement withcontact 49 completing the starting motor circuit. As soon as the enginestarts the vacuum produced in the manifold and transmitted to the spacebetween the diaphragm 2| and the housing member 22 causes a break of thestarting motor circuit by reason of the elevation of the rod 41; and thebar 52 automatically moves between the two parts 4'! and 49. The bar 52at its inner end is inclined as shown so that it is possible to forcesaid bar inwardly between the parts 47 and 49 separating the two bylifting the rod 47. This form of structure and that shown in Fig. 2operate upon the same principles. In Fig. 7 the tubular housin 55 is ofstraight tubular form and at one end inserts within a sleeve 56 of amember to be connected to the dash 3 and around a plug 51 inserted intothe end of the tube 55, through which plug there is a guide passage 58for the outer end portion of the bar 52. Of course, the same support forthe tubular housing could be used as shown in Fig. 2, in which case theboss l2 would support the tubular housing and have a guide passagetherethrough.

It is evident from the foregoing that a very simple and cheaplymanufactured starter control device is provided and which for operationmay be mounted on the dash at the right of the steering post, the lever29 operated by the right hand and then such hand used for any otherpurposes that may be needed in getting the engine started, for example,manipulating the choke and the like. There is no need to use the hand tohold the lever 29 in the position shown in Fig. 2, as it stays in suchposition and cannot of itself move back to original position after thecontact i6 engaged the grounding boss I2.

Mounting this starting control device in the dash of an automobile bodyis not imperative, as it may be mounted at other convenient locations,such as the steering post or at other easily accessible positions.

The invention is defined in the appended claims and is to be consideredcomprehensive of all forms of structure coming within their scope.

I claim:

1. In combination with an engine, electric starting motor therefor andelectric circuit for the starting motor, of a switch in said circuitclosing the circuit when free to do so, means. to hold the switch inopen position, said means being manually movable to release the switchto close said circuit, and engine operated means automatically movingthe switch to circuit open position when the engine starts.

2. In combination With an engine, electric starting motor therefor, anda circuit for the starting motor, of a switch in said circuit includinga movable member, means for normally moving said movable member tocircuit closing position when free to do so, manually operable meanshaving a part to interpose in the path of movement of said movableswitch member and adapted to be manually moved out of the path ofmovement of said switch member through manual operation and to return toits first position when said movable switch member is withdrawn, andengine operated means for withdrawing said switch member when the enginestarts.

3. In combination, an internal combustion engine, a starting motor forthe engine, an electric circuit for the starting motor and a switchincluding a movable contact adapted to close the circuit when free to doso, a movable member of insulating material interposed in the path ofmovement of said contact to hold the switch in open position, manuallyoperable means for moving said insulating member to permit said contactto close the circuit when the engine is at rest, and engine operatedmeans for withdrawing said contact when the engine starts.

4. In combination, an engine, an electric starting motor therefor, anelectric circuit for the starting motor including a ground for thecircuit, a movable contact in said circuit spring actuated in thedirection of said ground, a movable member of insulating materialbetween said ground and contact to hold the switch in open position,manual means for moving said insulating member to free the movableswitch member whereby said contact may engage said ground and completethe circuit, engine operated means for moving said spring actuatedswitch member and contact away from said ground to thereby break saidcircuit when the engine starts, and means for automatically returningsaid insulating member to its position between said contact and groundwhen said circuit is thus broken.

5. In combination with an internal combustion engine, an electricstarting motor therefor, an electric circuit for the starting motorincluding a terminal ground at one end of the circuit, of a supportconnected with said ground, a block of insulating material movablymounted on said support for movement toward or away from the ground, acontact forming a part of the electric circuit mounted on said block,spring means tending to move said contact toward the ground, enginesuction operated means for moving said block and attached contact awayfrom the ground when the engine starts, a member of insulating materialmounted on said support in association with said contact and ground,spring means for moving said member between the contact and ground whenthey are separated, and manual means for moving said member from betweenthe contact and ground when the engine is at rest to thereby completethe starting circuit.

6. A construction containing the elements in combination defined inclaim 5, said member having a cam shaped inner end whereby by operationof said manually operable means in a reverse direction the contact andground are separated and said member passes between the contact andground.

'7. In combination with an engine, an electric starting motor therefor,an electric circuit in which the starting motor is located, of a switchin said circuit having a ground comprising a supporting plate, asupporting sleeve extending from said plate, a switch block ofinsulating material slidably mounted in said sleeve, a contact carriedby said block at the side thereof adjacent said ground plate, saidcontact having electric connec tion with said electric circuit, a springacting on said block to move the contact into engagement with the groundwhen free to do so, engine suction operated means connected with saidblock to overcome the spring and move the contact away from the ground,a lever pivotally mounted between its ends on said plate, a bar ofinsulating material connected with the lever and passing through saidsleeve to move between the contact and supporting plate when the enginestarts, combined with means for moving said bar into such position whenthe contact and plate are separated, said lever being manually operableto withdraw said bar from between the contact and supporting plate whenthe engine is at rest.

8. In combination with an internal combustion engine, an electricstarting motor therefor, an electric circuit for said motor and a switchtherein for closing the circuit, of means adapted to hold the switch inopen position when the engine is at rest, manually operable means. formoving said switch opening means to inoperative position to permitclosing said electric circuit, engine oper ated means for operating saidswitch to break the circuit after the engine has started, and means forautomatically moving said first mentioned means to a position to holdthe switch open when the switch has been engine operated to openposition.

9. An internal combustion engine, an electric starting motor circuittherefor, a switch in said circuit including two members, one relativelymovable with respect to the other and which, when in contact engagement,complete the circuit, means acting on one of said members to normallymove the same into contact with the other to complete said circuit,engine operated means for moving said member to a position to break saidcircuit, means adapted to pass between said two switch members when thesame are sepa-- rated, and manual means for withdrawing said lastmentioned means between said two switch members to permit the same tocome into contact engagement.

10. An internal combustion engine, an electric starting motor circuittherefor, a switch in said circuit, including two members, onerelatively movable with respect to the other and which when in contactengagement complete the circuit through the switch, means acting on oneof said members to normally move the same into contact with the other,engine operable means for moving said member away from the other, meansfor holding the two switch members apart when the same are separated,and manually operated means for operating said holding means to permitthe switch members to come into contact engagement.

11. In combination with an internal combustion engine, an electricstarting motor therefor, an electric circuit for the starting motor, aswitch in said electric starting motor circuit including two members,one relatively movable with respect to the other and which when incontact complete the circuit through the switch, means acting on one ofsaid members to movethe same into contact with the other when free to doso, means operated through suction created by the engine for moving saidmember to break the circuit when the engine starts, means adapted tohold said two switch members from movement toward each other when thesame have been separated on engine starting, and manual means foroperating said holding means which holds the switch members apart topermit the same to come into contact engagement.

FRANK E. LIVERANCE, JR.

